United States advances to Gold Cup semifinals, ousting Canada on penalty kicks

U.S. goalkeeper Matt Turner made two saves in a penalty shootout towards Canada following a thrilling 2-2 draw because the hosts superior to the semifinals of the 2023 CONCACAF Gold Cup on Sunday in Cincinnati.

The USMNT will take on Panama subsequent on Wednesday (7:30 p.m. ET on FS1 and the FOX Sports app) in San Diego.

Here are three takeaways following Sunday’s match.

USMNT vs. Canada Highlights

USMNT exhibits character in comeback win

After 88 scoreless minutes, the Americans thought they’d the match gained on fairly aim by second half substitute and FC Cincinnati ahead Brandon Vázquez. But Canada equalized only a few minutes later on a penalty kick by Steven Vitória, and the guests appeared destined to advance in additional time when Jacob Shaffelburg put them up 2-1 with simply seven minutes of the extra 30 remaining.

The U.S. appeared lifeless and buried at that time. But the house staff had had the higher of the play all evening, outshooting Canada 21-5 (8-2 on goal) by the point it was over, and that relentless stress paid off when Reds defender Scott Kennedy inadvertently deflected the ball into his personal internet only a minute later to arrange the spot kick tiebreaker.

Canada’s pricey personal aim evens the rating towards the USMNT in additional time

Turner, the one starter from the USMNT’s 2022 World Cup squad on this Gold Cup roster, wasn’t about to squander his alternative to play hero.

“I just trusted my instincts really,” Turner informed FOX Sports following the match, including that the Canadian shooters he’d completed his homework on had been substituted earlier than the talents problem commenced. “Typically when I do that, I find myself having a lot more success.”

The first of Turner’s two shootout saves got here towards Vitória, whose profitable attempt from 12 yards in second-half stoppage time despatched the competition to the additional session. The overwhelmingly pro-U.S. crowd at TQL Stadium fell silent when native hero Vázquez blasted the USA’s subsequent effort over the crossbar, however Turner regained the benefit and the supporters’ confidence by stopping the following kicker, too.

The hosts coolly buried their subsequent three makes an attempt.

“He just really gave the entire group a sense of calm to go and execute,” U.S. interim head coach B.J. Callaghan stated.

And it wasn’t simply Turner. On an evening when the shorthanded U.S. did not play significantly effectively and simply may’ve misplaced, they discovered a manner to advance. Callaghan’s staff can have to play higher – a lot better – to obtain the Americans final aim of repeating as Gold Cup champs. Either manner, the combat they confirmed when all seemed misplaced on Sunday will certainly serve these gamers effectively for the remainder of the event – and past.

What a sport

Eventually, anyway. It took the U.S. eternally to get going on this one, giving Canada the prospect to slowly however absolutely develop into the sport as time wore on.

“For us, I thought it was a slow start,” Callaghan stated. “I thought the entire first half just lacked rhythm and any tempo and any control.”

Part of that was due to the arduous tackling, bodily match that was taking part in out. And when the groups got here collectively to alternate shoves earlier than finally strolling off the sector on the break, it was clear a spicy remaining 45 minutes (or extra) had been in retailer.

Whatever the second half lacked in high quality, it made up for in drama, as two of CONCACAF’s 4 2022 World Cup contributors exchanged blows and close to misses earlier than Vázquez despatched dwelling what seemed certain to be a storybook winner.

That three extra targets can be scored earlier than the sport even received to penalties speaks to how nuts this one was. Give Canada loads of credit score, too. The Reds hadn’t been good in any respect within the group stage, and there was a way that with each rivals lacking their headliners, the U.S.’s depth would win the day with relative ease. It did in the long run, however solely by the thinnest potential margin. Make no mistake: While the U.S. has crushed them in two tournaments within the final three weeks, the Canadians are a worthy foe and one that’s right here to keep.

USMNT superior previous Canada by way of penalty shootout to transfer on to the Gold Cup semifinals

Tricky Panama awaits

Whether this was probably the most inspiring U.S. efficiency or not (and it wasn’t) means little now. The Americans should rapidly recuperate and put together for Panamanians, who easily dispatched invited guest Qatar on Saturday and also will have an additional day of relaxation.

“They’re a really good team. We’re familiar with them, we’ve played them a lot,” Callaghan stated. “They’ve shown that they have depth, so we’re expecting a really competitive match against a well-organized, high-intensity team. We’re going to have to be at our best.”

After having fun with a full week off between the top of the group stage and Sunday’s quarterfinal, the Americans have simply three days to recuperate earlier than going through Los Canaleros.

“We have a quick turnaround [but] we’re a deep team,” Turner stated. “It shouldn’t be a problem to turn our legs around in San Diego.”

Doug McIntyre is a soccer author for FOX Sports. Before becoming a member of FOX Sports in 2021, he was a employees author with ESPN and Yahoo Sports and he has coated United States males’s and ladies’s nationwide groups at a number of FIFA World Cups. Follow him on Twitter @ByDougMcIntyre.

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